Self-operating filling station



NW. 29, R92? wswgz L. P. STARKEY SELF OPERATING FILLING STATION Original Filed Oct. 21,- 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "'TATTORNEY.

L. P. STARKEY SELF OPERATING FILLING STATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 21, 1920 INVENTOR. 51405 SfAf/ffy W/TMQSSfS ATTORNEY.

Nov. 28, M27,

L. P. STARKEY SELF OPERATING FILLING STATION Original Fil'ed Oct. 21,

1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 147 5 pg y y INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 29, 192?. 1,650,882

| P. STARKEY SELF OPERATING FILLING STATION Original Filed Oct. 21, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MW BY ATTORNEY;

Patented Nov. 29, 1927..

new STATES PATENT ounce.

LEWIS P. STARKEY, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, ASSIGNOB TO THE STARKEY AUTO- MATIG PUMP COMPANY, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLO- nano.

SELF-OPERATING Application filed October 21, 1920, Serial An additional object is to provide meansassociated with the check or -coin guide for coacting with the check to complete an electrical circuit whereby the feeding mechanism may be energized to feed the required amount of liquid or gasoline to be withdrawn; the release of the check and the stop; ping of the mechanism being automatically accomplishec An additional object is to provide a vending machine having means provided for automatically closing the coin slot and preventing the insertion therethrough when the liquid supply has been exhausted or diminished to a material degree, thereby preventing the insertion of checks or coins through the slot and preventing the internal mechanism from being set in motion unnecessarily and without producing the required amount of liquid.

An additional object is to provide in proved means for preventing the operation of the mechanism through the insertion of slugs, or spurious coins, particularly those having a central opening, such as washers or the like; the means provided being such as tends to spear the washers or other perforated coin when inserted in the coin guide whereby they are all removed from the coin guide and collected for subsequent removal. With the above and other objects in view, the invention ma be said to reside generally in the details 0. construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Figure 2 is an end or front view thereof partly in section facing toward the coin slot. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the contact box carried by the supply tank.

FILLING STATION.

No. 418,612. Renewed February 14, 1927.

Figure 4 is a view of the tank and box on a reduced scale.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the check excluding means for closing the door to the coin slot.

Figures 8 and 9, together with Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the means for removing the washers or spurious coins inserted through the slot. 4

Figures 10 and 11 are vertical cross sectional views of the coin slot or check guide, disclosing the spring contact or check retarders.

Figure 12 is a front elevation and Figure 13 is a bottom View, both of which disclose the check release means.

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the distributor bowl showing the outlet or valve discharge mechanism.

- Figure 15 is a view partly in section taken through the lower end thereof.

Figure 16 is. a vertical sectional view of the distributor bowl, showing the float operated check release or circuit breaker, and

Figure 17 discloses the manner in which the operating levers and links of the circuit breaker are relatively connected.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring connections for the device. The mechanism of the machine is enclosed within a hollow or upstanding body or cas ing 1 in the form of a standard having an enlarged supporting base 2 within which is contained a motor 3 and a pump 4 driven by the motor. The pump is connected by means of pipes 5 to a suitable source of supply, preferably in the form of a tank 6 which may be buried in the ground at a place convenient to the machine. This tank contains the gasoline or other liquid to be dispensed through the distributing mechanism of the vending machine in a'manner to be hereinafter explained. The contents of the tank are replenished through the filling pipe 7. v

The distributing mechanism includes a large container or bowl 8 having a discharge tip 9 formed at the bottom and draining into the discharge pipe 10 which projects exteriorly of the bowl 8, thus forming a nozzle or outlet 11. For all ordinary purposes the nozzle may terminate in proximity to the side wall of the casing, but when the machine is used for vending gasoline etc. suittit) able tilling hose may be attached to the nozale and employed for conducting the gasoline to the gas tank of the automobile. Manually operated valve means are provided l or controlling the drainage of the liquid 'l'rom the distributing container and consists in a valve operating rod 12 disposed upon the interior of the casing and supported crt-ically through suitable bracket means so as to turn readily when moved by means of the handle 13. The handle 13 would ordinarily project through a suitable slot formed in the ride wall of the casing, thus being accessible from the outside. The valve would normally he closed to prevent any of the fluid i'rom draining out of the container until the valve is opened by the vendor. Liquid is supplied to the container through the pump supply tank 6 when in communication with the container as shownand any excess over and above the amount to be ordinarily distributed at one operation of the machine is returned through the overflow pipes 15--15 which drains into the return pipe 16 run ning back to the supply tank. The overflow pipes are preferably adjustable so as to be raised or lowered for increasing or diminishing the capacity of the container to any predetermined amount so as to conform to price fluctuations. Mounted within the container is a float 17 carried by a vertically disposed rod 18 slidably inserted through one end of a pivoted lever 19 supported above the top of the container and connected by a link bar 20 to the operating arm 21 of a cam rod 22. This cam rod extends transversely across one side of the check or coin guiding tube 23 and is arranged adjacent one of the free ends of a flat spring 24. There are two of such springs and cam rods provided as indicated at 22 and 24 respectively. The springs bulge inwardly toward each other and are normally spaced apart to obstruct the passage of a coin of predetermined denomination, such as is shown at 25. The cams 22 and 22 normally engage the inner surfaces of the springs to keep them at the required distance apart and by turning the cams so that their flat sides are in contact, the springs are permitted to separate from each other by their inherent resiliency and thereby widen the space between them to release the coin. 1

By reason of this construction it will be readily seen that when the float reaches a predetermined height that the manipulation of the pivoted lever 19 and link bar 20 will actuate the operating arm and consequently move the transversely extending cam rod 22 and thus permit 'of the release of the coin 25. In addition and in order to prevent possible fraud a second coin releasing arrangement is provided. whereby when the handle 13 is actuated the rod 12 will rotate the transverse cam rod 22 siinnl-.

taneously with the opening of the valve in the outlet pipe 11, consequently the release of the coin will beell'cctcd either when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height or when the liquid is dispensed l'rom the container 8. Reverting back to the float dcvicc, it will be noted that the tloat rod or stem 18 is provided with an adjustable collar 26 which may be made rigid with the rod at any desirable point and provides an abutment which when contacting with the lever 15) upon the upward rise of the tloat will pivot the lever so that the arm 21 is moved to turn thc cam rod tor releasing the spring 21 and permitting the check to drop into the money box 27.

The check grips or springs 24 and 21' also constitute electrical contacts and are respectively connected to binding posts 28-28 to which are connected current wires 29-29 leading to motor 7). As the metallic check or coin is deposited into the coin tube and becomes clutched between the contacts 2-l and 21 an electrical circuit is completed which actuatcs motor 3 for driving the pump 4 and causing a flow of liquid to the various supply pipes and into container 8. As float 1T rises with the level of the liquid in the container, the abutment of stop 26 with lever 15) actuatcs the check release mechanism whereby the cam rod 22 is turned to release spring 24 from engagement with check 25, whereby the latter is free to drop downwardly into the money box. The dropping of the check in'unediately breaks the electrical circuit, deenergizing motor 3 and stopping pump 4 whereupon the supply of liquid to the container is immediately cut oil. The liquid within the container is now ready for distribution and may be drained olf merely by'turning valve handle 13 in the proper direction. It will thus be seen that the depositing ot' the check within the coin tube completes the electrical circuit whereupon the liquid feed mechanism is actuated for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid to the distributor; the float member 17 auton'iatically breaking the circuit and operating the check release when the fluid in the container has reached the predetermined amount.

To prevent the fluid from being drained ott during the tilting of the same and thus attempting toprevent the circuit from being broken by the float. reaching the predetermined lcvel, the lowerend of the valve rod 12 is provided with a gear 30 in mesh with gear 31 fixed to the cam rod 22. Upon pushing the valve handle 13 to open the discharge pipe 10, the cam rod 22 is automatically turned at the same time to releasing position, permitting contact spring 24' to relax and to release the clTeck 25. as shown to advantage in Figure 1lot the drawing. Thus regardless of whether or not the cir- Til fill

llO

cuitis broken through the rise of the ing comprises a rod 32 having oneend fas sg tened to the lnner wall of the coin chute and bent angularly from its fixed end and upwardly from the angular portion with its pointed terminal end lying in the plane of an inclined opening formed in the top of the coin chute just inside of the coin slot 33;

when the check or coins are inserted through slot 33, they pass over this inclined opening before dropping into the coin tube and while the pointed end of the rod 32, which is beveled to correspond with the incline of the opening provides a support for a genuine check or coin, any spurious coins orslugs having a perforated center, such as washers and the like will be caught by the rod, and guided downwardly through the opening until suspended upon the angular portion as indicated by the dotted line structure of Figure 6, the angular portion providing a support for the lugs thus collected and accumulated. Any slug that is not exactly as wide as the check or coin adopted as the one for operating the mechanism, will'slip on through the contact springs without being retarded for completing the circuit and will not consequently start the motor. To operate the machine the required coin or check is droppedthrough the slot 33,'slides over the end of the washer remover 32 and rolls down the run-way then to the left where it drops between the contact spring, completing the electrical circuit and starting the motor,

whereupon the pump will fill the bowl with fluid up to the top of the adjustable overflow pipe or at other points according to price fluctuations as previously explained. The bend in the run way is to prevent tampering with wire-or other instruments.

F or the purpose of rendering the device inoperative when the supply of liquid has fallenv to a low degree, check excluding means is provided and consistsin providing a float 34 having its stem 35 projecting upwardly through guide tube 36, the latter being suspended within the supply tank 6 by means of supporting brackets 37. The protruding end is screw threaded into the lower end of a box or tube 38 wherein an electrical contact is made, this boxhaving a contact screw threaded downwardly through the top thereof and provided with an electrical wire 40 connected thereto as illustrated. Bushing 41 insulates the screw contact 39 from box 38. The float rod 35, lunvevcr, is provided with a contact. diaphragm 42 having a semi-contact block diaphragm 43 having its edges engaging the side walls of the contact block and provided with a center block adapted to be brought into engagement with contact 39 and held as long as the liquid or fluid within the tank is above. the lower open end of tube 36. The second electrical wire 44 is connected to the contact box as at 45 and conducts the current into the contact box from which it passes into the diaphragln 42 of the float rods and out through contact 43*ja-nd 39 when the two are together. liVires 40 and 44 are arranged within a conductor pipe 46 and are respectively connected to a magnetic coil indicated at 47 and to aline wire L. These coils are preferably arranged in the rear of the coin chute and adjacent the top edge upon which is located a pivoted armature- 48. one end of which overhangs the coils while the other carries a weighted door 49 adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing coin slot 33 according as to whether the circuit to the magnetic coil is broken or made. As long as the supply tank is filled and maintains its level above the end of the tube 36, it is noted that the float will be sustained in raised position against the lower end of the pipe and that the diaphragm will be held against contact 39 so that the electric current flowingthrough magnetic coil will cause the latter to attract the armature, so that the door will be held in an elevated position and the coin slot open. However, after the liquid within the tank has fallen to such a degree as to permit contact 43 and 39 to separate, the electrical circuit will be interrupted causing the deenergizing of the magnetic coil 47 and the consequent dropping of the door to a closed position over the coin slot as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of thedrawing. With the slot thus closed it will be impossible for anyone and it will there be noted that the contact mechanism is thus suitably partitioned oil from the contents of the tank so that if any flash takes place between the cont-acts, it

takes place inside of the casing or flash box 50. I

In Fig. 18 it will be seen that a form of wiring is shown suitable for the purpose of this invention, and in that form it will be noted that line wires L are provided, one of which is connected to the magnet 47 and by a branch wire to the contact 24:, the contact 2t being connected to the motor 3 which s also connected to the other line wire as is the wire -l-t running to the float contact 43.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the present invention provides a novel and improved vending machine designed to be electrically and automatically operated for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid and that it can be readily adjusted to supply such liquid in any predetermined quantities. It is also provided with improved means for making it tool proof and economical in that it is automatically protected aga nst tampering.

It should be understood that the structure illustrated may he used-in connection with a hand operated pump as well as with a motor driven pump.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A liquid vending machine comprising a receiver, a pump for filling said receiver from an external source of supply, an electric motor operating the pump, a circuit for the motor, coin-holding means in the circuit adapted to be bridged by acoin for closing the circuit, and manually operable means cooperating with said coin-holding means and said receiver for simultaneously releasing the coin and discharging the receiver.

2. A liquid vending machine comprising a receiver, a pump for filling said receiver from an external source of supply, an electric motor operating the pump, a circuit for the motor, resilient coin-holding means in the circuit adapted to be bridged by a coin for closing the circuit, and manually operable means cooperating with said resilientcoin-holding means and said receiver for simultaneously releasing the coin and dis charging the receiver.

3. A liquid vending machine comprising a receiver, a pump for filling said receiver from an external source of supply, an electric motor operating the pump, a circuit for the motor, a coin-chute, a pair of contact members in the chute, adapted to be bridged by a coin disposed between them, said members being connected at opposite sides of a break in the circuit, a float; in the receiver, mechan sm for adjustment of one of the contact members to release the coin by movement of the float, and manually operable means cooperative with the other member and the receiver to simultaneously release the coin and permit the discharge of the receiver.

4. A liquid vending machine comprising a receiver having a valve-controlled d scharge opening, a pump for filling said receiver from an external source of supply, an electric motor operating the pump, a circuit for the motor, coin-holding means in the 'circuit adapted to hold a coin for closing the c rcuit, and hand-controllable mechanisms for adjusting the coin-holding mean:- to release the coin and for opening the valve.

5. A liquid vending machine comprising a receiver, having a valve-controlled discharge opening, a pump for filling sa d receiver from an external source of supply, an electric motor operating the pump, a circuit for the motor, coin-holding means in the circuit including a resilient member adapted to be bridged by a coin for closing the circuit, and hand-controlled mechanism including means for opening the valve, and including a rotary cam actin upon the resilient member of the coin-holding means to release the coin.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEYVIS P. S ABKEY. 

